HEY! Have you heard?

The Spread the Word to End the Word® Campaign is an ongoing effort by Special Olympics, Best Buddies, and supporters to inspire respect and acceptance about how hurtful and disrespectful words can be.

The idea started in 2008 when Special Olympics launched the website www.r-word.org to combat the inappropriate use of the R-word in common usage.

The campaign, created by youth, is intended to engage schools, organizations, and communities to rally and pledge their support and to promote the inclusion and acceptance of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

10th Annual Day of Awareness is March 7, 2018

The annual day of awareness is held the first Wednesday of March.

Why is this so important? Because, we still have a long way to go for everyone to recognize the hurtful, dehumanizing, and exclusive effects of the R-word. Respectful and inclusive language is essential to the dignity and humanity of people with intellectual disabilities.